Foldable display device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. D- HOOSE ETAL FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE May 28, 1963 Filed July 25, 1960 IlFlE-. I

HNVENTEIRS FRANCIS DAN HUDSE JAMES MICHAEL MELVIN JY W QM ATTURN EY y 8, 1963 F. D, HOOSE ETAL 3,091,345

FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 2515 w 25 i 2 5a 5 3'8 .30 zQb 5/37 26a INVENTURS FRANCIS DAN l-IUUSE IlFlE-.4- JAMES MICHAEL MELVIN ATTEIRNEY United States Patent 3,091,345 FOLDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE Francis D. Hoose and James Michael Melvin, Elwood,

Ind., assignors to Monticello Manufacturing Corporation, Elwood, Ind.

Filed July 25, 1960, Ser. No. 45,168 Claims. (Cl. 211-149) This invention involves a display rack made primarily out of heavy wire and is collapsible to permit the device being placed in a more or less flat condition for shipping and for storage when not in use.

The device consists essentially of two ends rockably secured to a back portion which is divided into two sections hinged one to the other substantially at the vertical central line thereof so that the ends may be folded around onto the front sides of the back portions, and the central part of the back he carried forwardly to be between the ends when resting against the back portions. The device further includes a plurality of shelves which are not only employed to display goods thereon, but also serve to retain the device in its norma extended condition whereby the shelves serve to fix the spacing apart of the end portions and to retain the back against any tendency to fold.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a structure of the above indicated nature wherein a rigid setup of the device is had, without tendency for any part to fold on the other part, and entirely in the absence of any latches or movable interlocking devices other than portions of the interengaging members being involved.

A further important object of the invention is, as above indicated, to provide a structure which is readily collapsed to a flat condition permitting econamy of space and size in shipping as well as in storage.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide such a structure which is comparatively light in weight and (also is economical to manufacture, at the same time affording an attractive rack for displaying goods thereon.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the device;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a detail in top plan and partial section of a portion of the device illustrating the hinging operation of the back portions.

Two ends generally designated by the numerals and 11 are herein shown as being formed out of tubing to have a generally inverted U-shape wherein there are the two spaced apart vertical legs 12 and '13 integrally tied together across the top ends by the transverse length 14. These ends 10 and 11 are further fabricated to have transverse wires 15, 16, '17, and 18 in each instance serving as supports for shelves generally designated by the numeral 19. Brace wires 18a, one for each end #10 and 11 are fixed to the wires 17 and 18 to extend diagonally downwardly and forwardly. Two such shelves are herein shown, FIG. 1, although there will be additional upper shelves, two more in number, in the present form of the invention, these two upper shelves being not shown in order to prevent confusion in lines in the drawings.

In addition to these shelf supporting wires, there may be other wires such as the stiffening wires 20, 21, and 22 in each instance also serving as abutments to prevent plr the displayed goods from sliding off the ends of the shelves 19. For decorative purposes, U-shaped filler wires 23 and 24 may be employed in completing these ends 10 and 11.

These two ends 10 and 11 are interconnected between their relatively back posts 13 by a back generally designated by the numeral 25 herein shown as made up of two frames 25a and 25b. These two frames 25a and 25b are hingedly connected to the back posts 13 by having intermediate wires 26a, 27a, 28a, and 29a encircle by their ends one of the posts 13, and intermediate wires 26b, 27b, 28b and 29b encircle by their ends the other posts 13, respectively. This encirclement is in the nature of eyes 30.

These transverse wires 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 28a, 28b, and 29a, 29b in the two frames 25a and 25b are interconnected with vertically disposed wires 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 preferably welded at their intersections with the transverse wires. It is to be understood that the numbers of these vertical wires as well as those of the horizontal wires may be varied in accordance with the size of the rack to be provided. Normally they may be relatively closer vertically at least than is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The minimum number are shown for the sake of making the drawings clearer as opposed to the inclusion of additional wires. The two frames 25a and 25b are completed across their top ends by the wires 36 in each instance. These two frames 25a and 25b, thus are rectangular in shape and may be rocked around the respective posts 13 of the end frames 10 and 11.

These two frames 25a and 25b are rockably interconnected between their wires 35a and 35b which are thus brought into close proximity throughout their vertical lengths. Each of these wires 26a, 28a and 29a of the frame 25a have their ends at the wires 35a bent upwardly through the length 9 and thence into parallelism with the major lengths, and from this parallel length the wire is looped around in spaced relation over that parallel length by the end portion 37. This looped portion 37 is maintained in a plane with the wire 26a and the upwardly directed lengths 9. This loop generally designated by the numeral 38 extends beyond the wire 35a and is welded thereto at its crossing thereover.

The wire 26b is welded to the wire 35b in crossing thereover and is carried around to encircle the wire 35a in a rocking maner.

The wires 27a and 27b are likewise formed by their end portions at the wires 35a and 35b, however the loop 38 in this instance being carried under the wire 27b instead of above it as is the case in reference to the wire 26b. The encircling portion of the wires 26b and 27b are in the nature of eyes and are designated by the numeral 39. The wires 28a, 28b and 29a, 2% are likewise formed in their crossing over the wires 35a and 35b, the loop 38 in conjunction with the wire 23a being herein shown as being above the wire 28b, and likewise the loop 38 in conjunction with the wire 29a is also above 29b. The reversing of positions of the loops 38 to above or below the respective transverse wires is a matter of choice, so long as there is one pair reversed in respect to each other so that the frame 25a will not be shiftable vertically in respect to the frame 25b. That is both frames 25a and 25b are maintained at fixed elevations, these elevations being that where the transverse wires are in common straight lines respectively.

Each of the shelves 19 is fabricated to have a front rail 40 engaging over the end wires 15, 16, 17 and 18 in each of the ends 10 and 11, this bar 40' being at the forward side of the shelf 19. This bar 40 in each of its ends is provided with a notch 41 receiving the end wires therein so that this rail 40 prevents the spreading apart of the ends and 14 when the rail is laid over those bottom wires 18. The rear side of each of the shelves 19 have downturned fingers 42 spaced therealong to rest over the bottom wires29a and 29b of the frames 25a and 25b, there being shown in the present instance four of these downturned fingers 42, FIG. 2. These fingers resting over the wires 29a and 29b not only support the rear side of the shelf 19, but also by hooking downwardly .thereover and behind those wires prevent the shelf 19 from being shifted along the end wires 18. The rail 40 carries on its forward side a finish strip 43 which may aslo serve as a price tag holder.

With this construction in mind as above explained, the shelves 19 being in position, the back 25 is maintained in a planar condition wherein the two frames 25a and 25b are within a common plane. This is initially due to the fact that the two frames 25a and 25b, even though hinged to the end rails 13 may not move backwardly at their central zones by reason of the fact that the loops 38 ride against the wire 3 512, the twowires 35a and 35b being spaced apart a distance as best indicated in FIG. 4. This maintenance of the two frames 25a and 25b in the common plane is due to the fact that the frame 25a cannot move relatively backward of the frame 25b by reason of the loop 38 striking the wire 35b and the wire 35a passing throughthe eye 39 in each instance of the transverse wires. When the shelves 19 are in position, .these two frames 25a and 25b, are maintained against forward rocking by their central andadjacent ends as defined by the wires 35a and 355 being inshelf contact. When the shelves '19 are removed, the ends 10and 11 may be folded around and against the forward sides of the frames 25a and 255 respectively, and then the. two .frames 25a and 25b may be folded together by pulling the wires 35a and 35b forwardly until theframes .are in substantially flat contact one withthe other. In this manner, a flat package is provided wherethe frame 2.5a would be relatively superimposed over and along the end 10; the frame 255 over and along the frame 25a; and then the end 11 superimposed over the normally forward side ofthe frame 25b. Theshelves maybelaid along this superimposed arrangement so that an over-all flat package may be had for shipping or storage as the case may be. Incidentally, the firarnes 25a and ZSb are preferably braced by, such meansas the diagonally disposed wires 44 and 45 which is common in the art, here- .in shown asbeing fixed respectively by lowerends to the bottom end portions of the wires 31 and. extending diagonally upwardly and toward one another by upper ends to the wires 26a and 26b, FIG. 2..

The transverse wires 26a, 26b, 27a,.2 7b,..2 8a, 28b, 29a and 29b in encircling the end posts '13 by their ends rest upon theend cross wires 15, 16, 17 and .18, whichare fixed to the posts 12 and 13 by any suitable means such as by welding or byrivets. e

While we have herein shown and described our invention in the one particular form,.it,is obvious that variations may be. had such as in thespacing of the vairious structural members; the design of the variousshelves, and particularly the means for retaining themin position, all without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we therefore do not desire to ,be limitedito that precise form heyondthe limitations which may be imposed by the following ,claims.

We claim:

1. A displayv device comprising a pair .of end members; a pair of back frame, members hinged by opposite vertical ends to respective back vertical ends of said end members; hinge means interengaging adjacent vertical ends of said frame members; said hinge means ,comprising a vertically disposed wire at each of said adjacent frame endsahorizontally disposed wires in each of said frames; an end portion of a horizontal wire ofone frame being fixed to the vertical wire of that frame and extending therefrom to engage pivotally the vertical wire of the other frame; a horizontallydisposed wire of said other frame being fixed to the vertical wire of said other frame and extending freely across the vertical wire of said one frame by an end portion, thereby limiting hinging of said frames in one direction by reason of said other frame horizontal wire end portion bearing against the vertical wire of the one frame; and a shelf removably carried in part at least by said end members across said end members on those sides of which said wire portion extends from one frame over the vertical wire of the other frame and restraining the frames from hinging both at their post ends and their adjacent ends. a

2. In a display device, a pair of end members having front and back posts and intervening substantially horizontally disposed interconnecting wires fixedto the posts; a pair of back frames; substantially horizontally disposed wires in each of said frames, common ends of the frame wires wrapping around said back posts hingedly interconnecting a frame with one of said rear posts, one frame being swingable around one post, and the other frame around the other post; said frames each having vertically disposed wires interconnected with said frame horizontal wires, there being a vertical wire at the free end of each of said frames; a plurality of said horizontal wires each extending from its connection with the end vertical wire of one frame to encircle the end vertical wire of the other frame, spacing apart the end vertical wires of the two frames, a horizontal wire of said other frame extending from its end vertical wire freely across the end wire of said oneframe as a stop limiting swinging to one direction of the two frames through said vertical wire encirclement of the vertical wire of said other frame; and at least one shelf removably attached to said end members and extending acrosssaid frames on their sides from which said stop may move. I r a 3. The structure of claim 2 in which said frame horizontal wires wrapping around the posts rest on. at least some of saidend intervening wires, and said shelf has fingers engaging a horizontal wire of each back frame.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said extension of the horizontal wire of the other frame constitutes ,a loop of that wire fixed on both sides of the loop to said other frame encircled vertical wire.

5. Adisplay device comprising a pair of end members a pair of back frame members hinged by opposite vertical ends to respective back vertical ends of said end members; hinge means interengaging adjacent vertical ends'of said frame members; said hinge means comprising a vertically disposed Wire at each of said adjacent frame ends;

horizontally disposed wires in each of said frames; an end portion of a horizontal wire of one frame being fixed to the vertical wire of that frame and extending therefrom to engage pivotally the vertical wire of the other frame; a horizontally disposed wire of said other frame being fixed to the vertical wire of said other frame and extending freely across the vertical wire of said one frame by an end portion, thereby limitinghinging of saidframes 1n one direction by reason of said other frame horizontal wire end portion bearing against the vertical wire of the one frame; and a shelf removably carried in part at'lea's't by said end members across said end members on those sides of which said wire portion extends from one frame over the vertical wire of the other frame and restraining the frames from hinging both at theirpost ends and their ad acent ends, said shelf having means removably interengaging it with said frames.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 923,725 Sterrett we 1, 1909 1,915,625 Smith June 27, 1933 1,959,454 Biescar May 22, 1934 2,315,595 Chappory Apr. 6, 1943 2,680,522 Temple June 8, 1954- 

1. A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OF END MEMBERS; A PAIR OF BACK FRAME MEMBERS HINGED BY OPPOSITE VERTICAL ENDS OF RESPECTIVE BACK VERTICAL ENDS OF SAID END MEMBERS; HINGE MEANS INTERENGAGING ADJACENT VERTICAL ENDS OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS; SAID HINGE MEANS COMPRISING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED WIRE AT EACH OF SAID ADJACENT FRAME ENDS; HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WIRES IN EACH OF SAID FRAMES; AN END PORTION OF HORIZONTAL WIRE OF ONE FRAME BEING FIXED TO THE VERTICAL WIRE OF THAT FRAME AND EXTENDING THEREFROM TO ENGAGE PIVOTALLY THE VERTICAL WIRE OF THE OTHER FRAME; A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WIRE OF SAID OTHER FRAME BEING FIXED TO THE VERTICAL WIRE OF SAID OTHER FRAME AND EXTENDING FREELY ACROSS THE VERTICAL WIRE OF SAID ONE FRAME BY AN END PORTION, THEREBY LIMITING HINGING OF SAID FRAMES IN ONE DIRECTION BY REASON OF SAID OTHER FRAME HORIZONTAL WIRE END PORTION BEARING AGAINST THE VERTICAL WIRE OF THE ONE FRAME; AND A SHELF REMOVABLY CARRIED IN PART AT LEAST BY SAID END MEMBERS ACROSS SAID END MEMBERS ON THOSE SIDES OF WHICH SAID WIRE PORTION EXTENDS FROM ONE FRAME OVER THE VERTICAL WIRE OF THE OTHER FRAME AND RESTRAINING THE FRAMES FROM HINGING BOTH AT THEIR POST ENDS AND THEIR ADJACENT ENDS. 